Catching UP

I'm so sorry to all my

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BLOg buddies...

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I have been working like a maniac non stop for 2 full weeks,

and haven't had time to sit down long enough to post

anything breathtaking or insightful.

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I haven't even had time to go through my vacation pictures from the beach yet.

But.. I did a quick look and saw this one of "Little Brady" putting mud on his CRAB.

I think that was his attempt to keep it from getting away.

Watching him at the beach completely filled my heart with JOY.

We (or me anyway) often take for granted the things we see everyday

as if they are no longer exciting....

BUT to watch him see life

is like

an iv of incredible

pumped straight into my veins..

It somehow made us all look at the waves, sea gulls, mud, and those

ever so fabulous sea shells in a much different light..

Thank you LORD for this little gift of a child

to remind our family that we are surrounded by gifts each day

if we only take the time to stop and see them.
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May we all see today as a present and open all it's gifts..

First Football Game

Tonight my little girl cheers at her first

Varsity Football Game.

She looked so darling in her uniform as she left to get on the bus.

I didn't take a picture, but will make up for it tonight at the game..

Little Brady and I are about to leave..

It's his first Football Game too !!!!
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Can't think of anything much funner than being fabulous, 16,

great weather, and about to cheer with your best friend

on a Football Friday Night...

(Well if you're not from Texas there might be something more fun)

May we all have a Friday to Remember!

Senior in the Sun

Back home, and Back to WORK...

(If I can really call it that)
I LOVE what I do so much that it always feels like FUN..

I had a Senior Shoot on Thursday.

It seriously had to have been one of the hottest days of the summer....

Katie and I made it through though...

AND what incredible shots we got...

Here's just a little sneak peak..

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May we all have a day that ends in WOW !!!

Footsteps

(Brook, Me, Brady, Brad, and Brenae)

I have so many wonderful pictures to share with my BLOg friends

from our trip to the coast..

We got home Sunday, and I left Monday morning to take Brent to College.

Brent and I messed up pretty much everything we did that day....

so I ended up spending the night and we started all over again on Tuesday.

We finally got it done late that next day..

I had completely forgotten how tiring college registration can be.

(Particularly when you mess things up! ha )

Anyway... I've had shoots since I've been back,

and haven't gotten to work much at all on my trip pictures..

I will have precious things to show you soon.

This was one I saw, and knew right off, that it was special to me...

I hope all of our children remember

That we are always here to hold their hands.

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May we NEVER walk through life alone !!!

Beach Bound

We're OFF !!!

The morning has been crazy..

But we're off to the beach.

Got so many bags packed, and piles of camera equipment.

But I just couldn't stand the thought of not getting the picture I want

because I didn't bring the right stuff.

Of course Brad about had a cow.... but he got over it.

This is my all time favorite beach picture I've ever taken.

Can't remember exactly how long ago it was ( I think about 6 years),

but it is one I always go back to as one of my favorites.

Can't wait to show you one of my new favorites !!!

Be back on Sunday..

What A CITY view

I had a shoot this week in one of the towers down town.

I was a little nervous, to say the least, as "This hick West Texas GAL"

entered a building full of executives, and stock brokers.

I was doing a shot of members around their boardroom table

(not at all my usual thing) haha..

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I can just tell you

that all my nerves walking in....were squelched within minutes.

WHAT wonderful, kind people I met in their office.

From the man at the front door, to the unbelievably sweet women in the office,

and I must say.... even the stock brokers themselves

were just real people

with hearts like the rest of us.
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We giggled, looked important, and laughed out loud all at the same time.

I was so thrilled that I had stepped out of my comfort zone

to do this shoot.

It is so true what they...

Everyone who walks through your life

can teach you something

(if you let them!!)

I truly had a grand time and will from this day forward

have a different perspective about stepping out of my comfort zone.
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As I left the office building...

I couldn't help but shoot a few of the amazing things

standing right there in front of me...

I've passed by some of these buildings many times....

But something about the new found feeling of freedom from the normal

had me looking at things in a whole new way!
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May we all dare to adventure out of our comfort zone..

The fear of failure is always hiding underneath the surface,

however it's up to us whether or not we listen..
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So my friends....

Do something soon that you didn't think you could....

You'll be amazed at the buried strength you carry within

(it's just waiting for a reason to shine)

Sexy SOUL

Man... How wonderful it is to go somewhere fun

with friends you hardly ever get to see..

But MAN how crappy it is to play catch up for days and days

trying to backtrack all you didn't get done while you were gone. haha
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My precious friend's Sherry and Deb took these pictures of me.

http://patriziphoto.blogspot.com/ and http://diddebdoit.blogspot.com/

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I've written this post in my head several times... ha

However it's very difficult for you to read it there.
(Stormy... if you see this post notice my wonderful necklace)

I LOVE it LOVE it... and wear it all the time. Thanks a MILLION!!

http://www.stormybrookedesigns.blogspot.com/

I am still just full of bubbles over my time in Carmine, Texas..

I know I was the supposed to be the one teaching things there....

But I can't express how much I learned....

and Mostly about MYself !

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As long as I can remember I have found something about my

body, hair, face, or my life that I didn't like and wanted to change.

I worked on legs, abs, pimples and wrinkles..

I've cut hair, grown hair, and colored hair...

And somehow it was just never quite what I was looking for.

However.... surrounding yourself with women (of all shapes and sizes)

who were so incredibly inspiring in so many different ways

has given me a whole new perspective..
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It's ok to LIKE being the YOU that you are..

Sure we all have things we can work on, and habits we can alter...

but WOMEN of the WORLD......

GIVE YOURSELVES a BREAK!!!!

Enjoy the way you are today...

As Max Lucado says...

Our society no longer tries to keep up with the Jones....

instead we try to keep up with some ridiculous idea of Hollywood and it's starlets..

That is so true...

In our minds we have built some idea of what we think we are supposed to be,

and anything less than that is just a MESS...

SAYS WHOOOOOOOO...

No matter who you are, or what you look like you can always find something wrong

if that is what you're looking for..

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So STOP looking...

Take today and make a list of some things you actually like about yourself.

God has filled you up with loads of YOUniqueness..

You will always be a crummy someone else...

But have the potential to be an awesome YOU..

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So today don't look at the cellulite on your legs (yes we all have it),

or the chicken flaps under your arms where your triceps used to be

(yes.. we all have those too).

INstead focus on the fact that you do have legs...

Ones that can walk you around in this incredible world we live in..

Keep your list and read it to yourself often.

Fill your life with more of how good you are instead of all that you think you're not.

May we all be reminded of our SEXY Soul.

Took more than I gave

What a delightful, incredible time I had at my Photo seminar this past week.

I hope this post can possibly express my heartfelt Soul Journey.

There are times in life where we truly take more than we give...

And this, my friends, was one of those times.

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To Sherry...

I adore you. I have looked up to you from the day I met you in 2003.

Many times, as I walked my rocky path, I have sought your comfort and guidance.

And countless others I have talked to you in my head.

You are a lady to be admired and your love for God, your family, your friends, and your camera are one that I treasure beyond what this lifetime will hold.

To Deb....

My precious new kindred spirit.

You are enclosed in one package so much of what the world needs more of.

Sincere, honest to your soul, natural, creative, and full of "the moment."

How thankful I am that we share our dear Sherry so that our paths met at the crossroads.

I will hold dearly to the 2 days we spent together.

The nights rocking on your front porch sharing the depths of our "woman's souls" will forever be a priceless moment I will look back on and smile.
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When Sherry and I arrived in RoundTop, Texas on Saturday night.... We drove to an incredible little pub to meet Deb. They were playing LIVE music and dancing. For a girl who watches daily Sponge Bob.... it of course was an amazing treat. A dear man, in his 60's, stood and sang his heart out to any one's request for at least 2 priceless hours.

How I wish you could have both seen and felt the overwhelming passion this precious man had for what he did.. I know I am an emotional sap, but it really brought me to tears to watch him. He loved what he did. He played from his soul with a Bucket on a stool that said "God Bless You".

Later that night I found out from Deb that he is the man who carries the huge CROSS over the top of his shoulder all over Texas. Now that is a man who has not stopped living. He lives each day tapped in to the Passion and JOY God has given us all. He didn't care at all that he was missing half of his front teeth. He sang from his heart... and for that no teeth were needed.

As my new male inspiration was singing Jeremiah was a Bullfrog (my request) ha

We turned around to see this (may I say STRANGE) sight. haha I'm not sure, but I feel like he was hurting the next morning.

Sunday morning I woke up to the smell of fresh coffee, and bacon. Heard the sweet sound of handmade wind chimes and thought that this place must surely be somewhere close to the road to Heaven. It may not be marked as such on the map, but if you ever need a visit to a place where time stood still... filled with the peace that we often take for granted then visit Deb http://diddebdoit.blogspot.com/ at the her bed and breakfast, and you can't help but take home a fresh squeezed dose.

After an incredible start to a beautiful day...

I set off on a Treasure Hunt.

I knew as I walked that this town would be filled with things I couldn't go home without.

I have so many wonderful pictures.. But this space can only hold a few..

After our workshop on Sunday Deb treated us to a wonderful diner. I've been told by another friend of mine that we should eat with our eyes.. I have never known exactly what that meant, but I came pretty darn close that night..

What wonderful food, and she even gave me the POLKA dot glass. hee hee

Deb invited a few of her friends over, and for that I will forever be thankful... I have read many times that we can learn something from each person who passed through our lives. Well I can only hope to have learned something from these amazing ladies. Glenda, was has a PhD, is in her 70's... To hear her talk you'd think she was just beginning life's road to being a woman. So full of life, and the desire to learn new things. We should never let the fear of failure stop us from trying. She talked it.... And most importantly she lived it...

Then there was Ms. Emma... A woman in her 80's who had me bending over with laughter one moment, and wiping back tears the next. She is the original founder of the Round Top Antique Show.. What an incredible woman. Her stories of a woman's journey in a man's world were something I will never forget.. Little did she know that a West Texas gal would be changed for a lifetime that night.

After our classes finished... Deb had one more surprise for us.

She took us to a place out in the middle of NO WHERE to see the Bridge of HOPE.

Along this gorgeous bridge are notes, prayers, poems, and hopes left by those who know God himself must surely visit such an incredible place.

Many cheers, and many thanks for this opportunity.

TO old friends, and new friends.... To new places, and experiences I will keep zipped in my soul.

Thank you Sherry for always reminding me that Women are the most SEXY when they follow the true spirit inside them.. Thank you for always taking my picture, and showing me that cellulite, wrinkles, and a few pounds can never replace the gifts inside our souls. I will have more of those to show later, and a lot more to say about that.

SEXY is knowing WHO you are, and being ok in THAT SKIN!

May we all find a $5 Polka dot garage sale dress that makes us feel incredible, and may we have dear, treasured friends who remind us that we are..

PIGS did FLY

If you saw Penelope (the pig) in my last post...

You'll see that she too has had a makeover!

I decided my new studio theme was going to be..

When Pigs Fly

so I gave her a little friendly witch to help with her aerial affairs.

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I must say I think she looks rather fanciful

in her new HOT PINK polka dot attire.

Little Brady is quite enamored with her.

She's had several conversations with him

in a language they speak all their own.e

Here is the new sewing section of my studio..

I'm not finished with my tree of wonder,

( the raw beginnings of it are in my last post)

I will have it completed soon and get it posted.

The shelves are wonderful, and I can see my fabric while I create.

I bought the brackets for .50 cents a piece at last weeks garage sale.

After a quick paint job and some dots.... they are perfect for my needs.

Brad hung them for me and I have already put them to use.

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Got busy right away and made me a new pillow

to match my new $10 garage sale chair.

I used the arm rest material to make the flower

and it ties all the colors in to the rest of the house.

Now I must say - that chair was a steal.

It is so comfy.........

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I did not buy this at a garage sale...

This is Brad's contribution to our decor... haha

But I figured if he's let me paint polka dots on everything

then I owed him his deer.

(with a few minor additions)

Yes... I know if it has these horns it is a BOY,

but a deer in Drag is so much cuter I think. hee hee'

Besides... I told Brad it gets much more attention that way.

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Here is my chair in my sewing area...

Was an ugly old brown mess before,

and a few coats of paint and some glamour

and she's a Cosmo GAL..

April and I designed her a matching lamp sister,

and they are set to fill me with many days of fun in my work space.

Smiling while you work...

Now it just doesn't get much better.

Last but not least...
My best $50 dolloar purchase..
A not so fabulous, not so real wood armour.
A coat of fresh white paint....
Some wonderful Polka dots and she is the best storage in the city..

Thank you so much to everyone who has taken the time to comment,
send me a text, facebook me, or write an email about my last post..
What an amazing treat to know that life is filled with people like you.
Their is much more good in this world than bad if we just take the time to discover it..

May we all find someone to spread a kind word to.
You never know when you just might have made their day..
Smiles are the best kind of flowers to send.

When PIGS Fly

This is one of the most "from the Heart" posts I've ever written,

but I have let something eat at me for years and it's time to let it out.

Several years ago...

someone I trusted told me that I lived in a fairy tale world.

They told me that I would never amount to anything

unless I learned to get out of the dream world inside my head

and get serious.

I hadn't realized how much I let what they said to me take root in my spirit..

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I have tried to be serious..

Tried to like serious things...

Wear serious colors....

AND it's just not ME......

So what if the world ever takes me serious

or thinks I amount to (their version of) anything.

After a great deal of soul searching ...

I have decided to embrace all that I am and just be proud of it.

God gives each of us a special set of gifts.

And when people say you are one in a million.......

THEY'RE WRONG!!!
You are the ONE and ONLY..

There is not another single person in this entire world like you for a reason.

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I have spent many years fighting against my gifts.

I love to smile, and make other people smile.

I love to tell silly stories, and giggle so hard I nearly wet my pants.

I like color.... Wild and crazy colors..

I like whimsy...

I like things that make me feel inspired and want to create.

I like pigs with big round bodies...

And most of all I like POLKA dots!!

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So... Last night I began painting,

and I have torn my upstairs studio apart.

I have kept it serious

because I wanted people to take my work seriously.

I work very hard at the things I do,

and I let those words "get out of your fairy tale"

keep me from being the ME that I was meant to be..

Maybe I was put here

to bring a little fairy tale to us all.

To fill someones day with something silly instead of something serious.

To bring a giggle, to cause a smile, to say some inspiring words,

to push someone to never stop dreaming,

or to create happy things with polka dots....

And best of all

maybe to show someone that God makes us all

with a unique purpose..

How sad it would be if we were all the same!

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So.. with that said -

I begin my studio transformation...

I am going to take the words of JOYCE MEYER to heart.

Surround your self with only those things that.....

Are Beautiful

Are Useful

or Bring you JOY.

(and my amendment to that is ...

or ones that have the potential for any of those things..)

Stay tuned for the finished drops of my Fairy Tale.

May we all realize that sometimes Pigs can fly if they have the right kind of wings..

Immersed in ART

Rocks, Wings, and Precious Little Things!!!

A workshop for anyone who wants to find the creativity that lies inside.

Fear Less.... Dream More

Never underestimate the transforming effects

of creativity on your life..

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Spend a few hours with 2 women who will take you on a

remarkable journey of creativity.

Bring your camera, your laptop, an open mind, and a heart full of fun.

By learning a few simple techniques in Photoshop

my precious friend from Italy (now Doha), Sherry Patrizi and I

will take you on

a Soul Journey.

Spend a day and a half with a room full of hearts who want to create.

Learn to use layers, textures, and script to create your own

personal piece of ART..

Turn something Ordinary into something Extraordinary..

A bit of art lies within us all..

The workshop will be held

at an amazing Bed and Breakfast near Austin, Texas.

in her ART Bodega

http://debdiditforyou.blogspot.com/2009/07/phototography-workshop.html

What a wonderful way

to spend a night away from home.
Workshop participants will be given the special room rate of only $50.00

For more information contact Deb Taylor

at 979-830-7866

only 10 spots left.. call soon